Week of 3 practices a day prepares team for opener

With their bags packed and practice gear loaded, members of the Port Jervis football team said goodbye to their homes last week and arrived at Camp Greenkill at the YMCA facilities in Huguenot.

With their bags packed and practice gear loaded, members of the Port Jervis football team said goodbye to their homes last week and arrived at Camp Greenkill at the YMCA facilities in Huguenot.

For coaches and players, camp was a great week of nothing but football — a week full of great expectations and demanding practice.

"It's a week where all distractions are left behind. A week to work on the concept of 'Team Football,'" said head coach Matt Polanis.

Every year, Polanis and the staff rough it alongside their players at camp. Coaches have one dorm building right next to the players' dorm.

For the players, their living arraignments at camp are a bit different than most have at home. Players bunk in a room with three other teammates. They have to share a common bathroom and have to work together to keep their room in proper order.

It's no different for the coaches as they share common areas, including a small kitchenette in their dorm.

Camp offers the Port Jervis

football team a chance to go from two practices a day at the high school campus to a vigorous three-a-day varsity practice plan at the YMCA. The junior varsity team met up with the varsity each day and took part in two practices per day.

For the players, camp elicited a variety of comments.

"I love the conditioning drills," said senior David Sicina during some downtime.

Sophomore Jack Piscitelli said the camp was exciting preparation for the season. "We are hanging out with the team, having three practices a day, waking up at 5 o'clock in the morning, and swimming."

When asked about the talks from the coaches, Piscitelli said, "Coach Giavannone said we could be legends if we just get out of the drought and start a new legacy for Port."

Junior Henry Schall and sophomore Justin Rodriguez agreed. "We exercised constantly," Rodriguez said. "We pushed to have the mental strength to do three practices a day."

"We'll have stronger football players this year. You'll see that on the field," Schall said. "Sleeping was tough, though," he added, laughing. "The beds are never that good."

For others, camp is a great way to get to learn what it means to be a team. Senior Dan DeCarlo, a two-time Section 9 wrestling champ who is no stranger to tough practices, enjoyed the downtime as well. DeCarlo was the first to run down to the basketball court Thursday for a pickup game of hoops.

Thanks to the Red and Black Touchdown Club's fundraising activates throughout the year, the camp is 100 percent funded. Camp does not cost a player nor his family any money out of pocket.

The Raiders broke camp Saturday morning and headed home to clean up and then to Glennette Field to host a three-team scrimmage against Eldred and Sullivan West.

With all that football, there's little doubt the 2013 Raiders will be a force in Section 9. The season kickoff is at 7 p.m. tonight as Port welcomes Class A newcomer Franklin D. Roosevelt High School from Hyde Park to Glennette Field. All Raider fans are asked to wear red clothing to welcome FDR.

Information for this story was provided by the Red and Black Touchdown Club.